Jay Contreras, the heavily tattooed vocalist of the OPM rock band Kamikazee, may exude a rugged rockstar image, but at heart, he's a softie — especially when it comes to animals.
The singer has been an animal lover since childhood, caring for a variety of pets, including dogs, fish and even exotic reptiles.
"I have pet dogs, cats and an iguana right now. It's fun to care for them, especially dogs. Even if you're away for just a short while, to them, it feels like forever," Contreras said at a media event.
The singer, in fact, describes his dogs as his "children."
"My three Bully dogs are like goofballs. The love they give is truly unconditional. Two of my pugs hang out in the kitchen downstairs. Every time I go up and down, they act like I've been gone for ages. Sometimes, I'll just step out to pee, and when I come back, they're super excited," he said.
"My pets are really my babies. They get excited just by looking at me. That's the thing about dogs — they're really about unconditional love. If you don't find that from people, you'll find it from your dog. That's guaranteed," he added.
Because of his love for his furries, Contreras had no second thoughts about signing a business partnership a unique pet company called Pet.Love.Travel on October 15 alongside its founders, couple John Robert Baculi and Jascha Crenz Chacon.
Pet.Love.Travel, founded in September 2022, is a dedicated pet transportation service operating in Metro Manila and nearby areas. Established with a passion for pets and their well-being, the company provides safe, reliable, and comfortable transportation for animals, ensuring they reach their destinations with care.
Whether going to a routine vet visit, a trip to the groomer, or moving to a new home, the company prides itself on offering personalized and professional services tailored to each pet and its owner's needs.
In May of this year, the company received the National Outstanding Pet Transport of the Year award at the 2024 Excellent Filipino Awards.
"The business model is great, and it's very convenient, especially for pet lovers like me. I'm really happy to be part of it because it's a good venture, and we can solve some problems for pet owners," said Contreras when asked why he agreed to the partnership.
In addition to local pet taxi services, Pet.Love.Travel provides ferry, car, and plane transport options for long-distance travel, ensuring pets are transported safely and comfortably. The service is built on a foundation of trust, love for animals, and a commitment to quality, making it a preferred choice for pet owners.
"Our first requirement for drivers is that they should be pet-friendly. If possible, they should also have pets to give them hands-on experience in handling animals. And for legalities, of course, they need to have proper licenses, and their cars or motorcycles must be in good condition. Air conditioning is often the top concern, especially for large pets, so the service must always be in good working order," Chacon explained.Co-founder Jerson Lipit emphasized the company's vision.
"Our vision is to expand nationwide. This service addresses a real problem — making sure even animals have a place in our society. It has huge potential. Out of 10 people, some have pets but no vehicles, so how will they transport their pets? That's where Pet.Love.Travel becomes the key to solving everything," Lipit said.
At the moment, the Pet.Love.Travel mobile app is in the works, but interested pet owners can reach the company via its official Facebook page or website, petlovetravelph.com, to avail of its services.